Half Moon Bay, CA -- The records just keep getting smashed in the world of competitive giant pumpkin growing.

Just ask Puyallup, Washington-based farmer Joel Holland, whose 1229-pound pumpkin just took the crown in the annual weigh-in in Half Moon Bay, California -- the self-proclaimed "Pumpkin Capital of the World."

When Holland started out in the sport 20 years ago, he won his first contest with a relatively dinky-sized squash of 244 pounds.

But, over the years, as more people have started growing giant pumpkins and harvesting seeds from the winning gourds, the weights have ballooned and pumpkins more than 1000 pounds are now common.

Holland's half-ton winner this year marks a personal best for his crops and also a record for the Half Moon Bay contest.

He plans to display his squash this weekend (Oct. 16-17) at the town's annual Art & Pumpkin Festival before taking it home and dividing the seeds between himself and his fellow giant pumpkin growers.

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